Prepare for a nostalgic cringe-fest as we revisit the musical skeletons in the 90s closet! From Sugar Ray's repetitive riffs to Limp Bizkit's questionable George Michael cover, we're counting down the tracks that dominated airwaves despite their dubious quality. Remember these earworms that somehow charmed us back then but make us wince today?
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MusicTranscript
00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the worst, hackiest, and
00:13or least effective tracks you might have forgotten from the 90s.
00:22Number 10 – Every Morning, Sugar Ray
00:24We're not going to sit here and police a band like Sugar Ray, but we can all agree
00:33that they're not perfect.
00:35Every Morning encapsulates all the highs and lows of their multi-genre style.
00:39It's a little bit much to hear that guitar riff every time, coupled with those punishing
00:43verses.
00:51Mark McGrath has a voice that's perfect for the late 1990s, but that can sometimes
00:55be a little harsh to hear.
00:56He's got that party boy attitude that's much better served on their other songs.
01:00The flamenco influence provides a confusing addition to this single, showing that they
01:04might have been flying too close to the sun.
01:14Number 9 – We Like to Party, Vengaboys
01:17Eurodance swept the planet in the 1990s, inspiring artists to create music that made
01:29you want to move.
01:30Vengaboys got in the game with this late decade hit that challenges your patience.
01:34You might recognize it from commercials, tainting your memory of it even more.
01:44The Dutch band reached an international audience with this repetitive single.
01:47After 30 seconds, you may even want to turn it off altogether.
01:51We Like to Party could very well be too much of a good thing.
01:54The incessant beat captures your attention, locks you in, and then doesn't change much
01:58at all.
02:06Number 8 – Human's Being, Van Halen
02:16Nearing a crossroads in their career, this hard rock group released a single for the
02:19Twister soundtrack.
02:20It was the last one they put out with singer Sammy Hagar.
02:24Nearing the end of a successful era, the band feels a little past their prime.
02:35The verses are a far cry from dreams, or why can't this be love?
02:39Considering this band includes Eddie Van Halen, the music doesn't push boundaries either.
02:43It's certainly not capturing any of the other members at a high point.
02:46Without a cool melody or riff, Human's Being feels like a rock tune searching for a lifeline.
02:59Number 7 – Summer of Love, The Beach Boys
03:09With Summer of Love, The Beach Boys find themselves in a creative no-man's land.
03:14The genius Brian Wilson definitely didn't write this one.
03:17Instead, listeners get to hear singer Mike Love do a rip-off of the band's earlier
03:21material.
03:29Originally released on the 1992 album Summer in Paradise, the song also became connected
03:34to a piece of 1990s TV culture.
03:37The tune helped promote the group's work on Baywatch.
03:39Much like the Lifeguard TV show, this track features much more style than substance.
03:44It also doesn't help that this once great band has much better material in their rear-view
03:48mirror.
03:56Number 6 – 9-1-1 is a Joke, Duran Duran
04:06If you like Duran Duran, you know them as New Wave icons.
04:09They are arguably the farthest thing away from Public Enemy.
04:13Giving their take on 9-1-1 as a joke, the band tries to interpret social commentary
04:17in a different genre than their own.
04:19This particular cover finds them trying to do a hip-hop cover.
04:29Needless to say, the results are mixed.
04:31Simon Lebon was never meant to follow the likes of Flava Flav.
04:34The original message also falls flat here, coming from a band of white English rockers.
04:39It's an ambitious choice, but we have to point out that it's also ridiculous.
04:49Number 5 – Crash Test Dummies
04:53With a title that's hard to say, the Crash Test Dummies aren't off to a good start.
05:02The band is perhaps best known for this single, featuring a chorus without lyrics.
05:06Here Brad Roberts sings with a unique voice that will either draw you in, or push you
05:10away.
05:11If you don't engage with the story, the song starts to crumble as it fails to leave
05:20you wanting more.
05:21Mm-mm-mm-mm might have benefited from more words, or maybe a new direction altogether.
05:26While there's a compelling story underneath, the melody and vocal performance make it harder
05:30to appreciate.
05:33It's not hard to see why Weird Al wanted to parody the tune.
05:47Number 4 – Lullaby – Sean Mullins
05:56For being honest, Lullaby doesn't even have that bad of a chorus.
05:59It's mostly the verses that are tough to hear.
06:07Sean Mullins sounds like he's closer to the microphone than an NPR announcer, creating
06:11an ASMR sound long before it became popular.
06:14His breathy singing can be off-putting, making even his best lyrics come off a little creepy.
06:24This is the furthest thing from a soothing lullaby.
06:26The artist references Hollywood and celebrities, but they come off more like a parody than
06:31a serious song.
06:32To this day, Mullins hasn't created another single as successful as this one.
06:44Number 3 – Butterfly – Crazy Town
06:52As one of the representatives of nu metal, Crazy Town comes from the sometimes controversial
06:56world of nu metal.
06:58Butterfly is one of their most recognizable songs, giving audiences a mix of metal and
07:02hip-hop.
07:03It's hard to take them seriously when the lyrics and melody are somewhat juvenile.
07:14This single might be entertaining sometimes, but it starts to wear out its welcome by the
07:18time it hits the chorus.
07:19From their 1999 debut, The Gift of Game, this track could be an argument against the entire
07:24genre.
07:25The goofy video doesn't do the music any favors either.
07:32Number 2 – Summer Girls – LFO
07:40With its breezy delivery, Summer Girls is the kind of song you might hear at a bad beach
07:44party.
07:45It's hard to take any lyrics seriously, with the pop culture references coming off
07:49as desperate.
07:50The vocal performances aren't saving this single either.
07:53The production is basic, the beat isn't memorable, and the vocalists don't give
07:57it any charisma.
08:06This almost feels like it represents the worst impulses of 1990s pop.
08:11Most songs should sound more fun than this, with the talent not measuring up to the task.
08:15You'd be much better off listening to a deep cut from NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, or even
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08:41Number 1 – Faith – Limp Bizkit
08:50While some people love them, Limp Bizkit is nothing short of an acquired taste.
08:54Their original songs, like New Key, feature an abrasive style that's auditory overload.
09:01They also do the occasional cover, releasing a bizarre attempt at George Michael.
09:07It's immediately clear that these two artists have completely different ideas about music.
09:12While it could be considered serious, the quiet verses and loud chorus mostly come off
09:22like an unfunny joke.
09:24The brash attitude of Fred Durst and company turns this into an overcooked mess.
09:28Ultimately, you could say that it's an unnecessary dip into pop territory.
09:40Did we forget another awful song from the 1990s?
09:43Let us know in the comments.